Marin sighed heavily, pressing his head onto the small heart-shaped box. "Please don't break." He asked some higher force in the universe. He was surprised for a moment as a small ladybug landed on his parcel. He smiled warmly as it then flew off towards the sky, just as he placed the box in the mailbox.
"What're you doing?" Tikki asked hovering nearby her friend.
"Just...sending some goodwill." Marin reasoned, his face slightly red as he opened his coat so Tikki could fly back into his inner pocket before walking to school.
"In most fairy tales, the prince breaks the spell by kissing the princess. Can anyone tell us why?" Miss Bustier asked holding up a novel.
"Because only love can conquer hate!" Rose called out with a bright-eyed look on her face.
"Correct, Rose." The teacher confirmed as Max then stood up, starting a classroom discussion as Adrien scribbled in his notebook. He knew what he felt, at least, he had a good idea of what it was. But whatever it was, it wasn't something that could be transferred to the common word so easily. Like his current vocabulary wasn't enough. He groaned in annoyance as the teacher then spoke up again.
"Adrien, I hope what you're writing has to do with my lesson." Miss Bustier said walking towards him. "Would you mind repeating what I just said?"
"That's why in most fairy tales, the prince breaks the spell by kissing the princess because only love conquers hate." Adrien repeated not looking up from his notes.
Miss Bustier nodded with a smile on her face. "Very good, Adrien! Now, everyone, don't forget to finish Sleeping Beauty by Charles Perrault tonight, and happy Valentine's day, students!"
Adrien looked over what he wrote, confirming that it wasn't at all what he wanted to convey and crumpled it up. He waited in the classroom for a moment, watching everyone in his class leave first. He closed his eyes for a moment, wondering what he should do when he sensed someone nearby.
"Hey, Adrien!"
He opened his eyes to Nino standing before him with Marin nearby holding a box with his family's brand.
"Oh, hey." Adrien looked between the two as Nino looked back at Marin. The two looked like they were having a silent conversation where Nino was prompting Marin to do something, and Marin looked reluctant. But the taller boy sighed, taking something out of the box.
"Would you like a candy apple?" He murmured, holding up a candy apple, as Nino slapped his forehead.
"Sure?" Adrien accepted the treat and was just about to take a bite when Nino spoke up.
"No-Dude!" He snapped at Marin before sighing, then turning towards Adrien. "Marin sent you a e-vite a few days ago for all of us to go to the movies next month for that premiere. Did you get it?"
"Huh?" Adrien's eyes widened as he quickly took out his phone. Scrolling through his email he didn't see anything, then checked his spam box. Seeing said email. "Sorry about that, I'll have to let you know?" Adrien offered as Nino and Marin exchanged a glance.
"No problem," Marin said, nodding his head before he left, with Nino trailing behind.
"See you later bro!"
Adrien smiled for a moment before it soon faded, looking back down at his half-written poem. "Ugh, this is pointless." He remarked picking up his bag and tossing the paper in the trash. Where he was then jumped by Chloé and Sabrina who was holding a poster in her hand.
"Hi Adrien, sign here please." Chloé requested handing him the pen.
Adrien sighed, already tired of this conversation, "Oh, come on, you know I hate signing autographs at school, Chloé."
Chloé shook her head, "Oh, that's not what this is. This is a petition against cruelty to hamsters. Have you seen some of the ugly sweaters they are forced to wear? It's appalling."
Adrien stared at his childhood friend, he had a feeling that she was lying. But then again, he really liked hamsters, so...
He begrudgingly signed the poster much to Chloés glee. As he walked away from the two girls, he took a bite of the candy apple, tasting a cinnamon sweet tangy flavor that spread over his tongue. Licking his lips he took another bite, even though it tasted great, he wished it wasn't so sticky.
"You gotta stand up for yourself more dude!" Nino remarked as he walked with Marin towards the from of the school with his arm around his friend's shoulder. Marin responded in a series of vocal pitches as he shrugged his shoulders. Then he offered Nino a candy heart as then they spotted Alya waiting.
"Sorry Nino, but Cutie and me have a date." She joked as she grasped Marin's arm. "It's fine to be jealous."
Nino rolled his eyes in amusement, "Hey- no fair. What if I wanted Marin to take me on a date?"
"You'll have to wait until next year I guess," Alya remarked as all three laughed, then the two friends left Nino with a candy heart, walking away from the school.
"So, where am I taking you on our, "date"?" Marin asked, playing along.
Alya thought for a moment, "You should treat me to one of your bakery's famous Valentine day cakes. Or we could try to find Andre..." but her words trailed off as she spotted Kim and Max. Marin felt his stomach sink as he saw Alya's eyes lit up mischievously.
"Alya, please don't-" He started but was dragged along as she ran towards the two friends.
"Meta-who?" Kim asked in confusion, tilting his head as he held a heart-shaped box in his hand.
Alya looked into the box with a smile on her face, "Ooh! Sparkly! Is that for me?" She teased as Kim quickly took a step back.
"Negative Alya. The recipient of this gem has already been determined, it's-" Max started to say but immediately Kim silenced him by placing his hand on his best friend's mouth.
"Shh! Keep it on the down-low!" He insisted as Alya smiled in excitement, much to his and Marin's chagrin.
"What a scoop! Kim's got a major crush!" She then took out her phone to record. "Who's the lucky lady?"
"Alya!" Marin scolded as she stuck her tongue out playfully, putting away her phone. "It's a gorgeous pin, Kim. I'm sure whoever you give it to will be touched by the gesture." He said supportively.
Kim smiled sheepishly, "Technically, she's still gotta accept it." But then a panic erupted over his face. "What if she says "no"!?"
"She won't Kim, no way!" Alya insisted, "Don't hold back, Kim. Go for it, no regrets!"
"Her route is highlighted here in yellow, yours in red. If you run at ten miles per hour you're going to gain a four and a half minute advance on her. Halt and wait here facing northwest - the third most romantic spot in Paris. Now, go go go!" Max ordered as Kim then ran off at full speed.
"Thanks, you guys!" Kim called out as he sprinted, the rest of them waving as Marin turned towards Max.
"So, who's the brooch for?" Marin asked.
"Chloé."
There was an awkward pause as both Alya and Marin stared at their friend.
"...Chloé Bourgeois?" Alya confirmed.
"That is correct." Max simply responded.
"Max, do you not see a problem here," Marin asked genuinely as Max glanced at him in confusion.
"I don't see what the problem is." Max said as his two friends sighed.
"Chloé Bourgeois. The girl who tormented us, her classmates since grade school?" Marin said.
"Who goes out of her way to make other people cry just for her own sadistic pleasure?" Alya pointed out.
"Who always hangs around Adrien because being near him makes her more popular by association? Marin added.
"Who blackmails Sabrina into being her slave by bribing her with the promise of borrowing her expensive clothes?" Alya emphasized.
Max simply started at them.
"MAX. DO YOU NOT SEE THE PROBLEM OF SENDING KIM TO CONFESS HIS FEELINGS TO CHLOE?!" Alya tried to explain, shaking him, but Max only narrowed his eyes at her, trying to process what she was trying to say.
Marin then sighed, this was taking too long. "Max," He said more calmly, "Chloé is the kind of girl who is going to stomp on his heart while laughing." getting straight to the point while the new information cleared the confusion.
"Oh."
Adrien bit down on his pen, resting his head on his desk as Plagg dug into another camembert bread roll that he specially ordered from Marin the other day. A special present for Plagg at his request. The Kwami couldn't complain now as much as Adrien had been writing love poems in his notebook for days now. The days leading up to Valentine's day had been worse than usual.
"He's got two eyes, two arms, and two legs, what's there to be attracted to? You don't even know who he really is!" Plagg reasoned as Adrien sighed, lifting his head.
"You don't know anything about love..."
"Oh sure I do, I love Cheddar, I love Swiss and I love Camembert." Plagg said as he took another bite of his bread, purring happily, "I especially love this bread!"
Adrien swung his chair, walking towards the window, resting his head and arm against the window, looking out towards the window. "You wouldn't understand Plagg. I put myself out there, and he didn't overlook how I felt. He didn't try to belittle my feelings, he didn't try to shut me out...he actually cared about what I wanted." He explained clawing his heart swelling with something warm, almost happy. "Which is why I have to get this right, I have to tell him how I really feel, even if he doesn't feel the same way."
"Aww, the poor boy's frustrated because he can't finish the poem for his masked sweetheart?" Plagg mocked, uninterested about how into this his friend was. "You overthink too much."
Adrien's eyes widened as he looked at his Kwami in surprise. "I don't need a poem when I can tell him to his face... I love you." He remarked with a smile, blushing lightly at the thought of confessing to his partner.
Plagg made a gagging sound, "Bleh, gross. You're making me lose my appetite." Then he eyed the last of the bread, gobbling it down quickly with a smile and a satisfied burp. "Well, almost."
"Chloé? Since when did she start texting me?" Alya asked herself as she, Marin, and Max were searching for Kim. He and Alya were near the riverfront while Max checked his house.
"Making friends behind my back?" Marin asked jokingly as Alya's eyes widened in shock. Marin walked next to her, feeling a wave of shock as he saw a picture of Kim looking humiliated, drenched with water on his knees with garbage on his face. And now the entire school would see the photo as well.
"What a witch!" Alya snapped.
Marin sighed, "Poor boy, he doesn't deserve to be humiliated for saying how he really felt."
"I hope Adrien doesn't do the same thing to you." Alya joked but immediately wished she could take it back as she saw Marin's stoic expression.
"That would never happen," Marin remarked remembering the parcel he sent out that morning, recalling the poem that he wrote with a reddened face.
Just as Alys was about to comfort her friend she spotted something in the sky, something too big to be a bird. "What in the world is that?!" She asked pointing up towards it. But only a moment later she was hit with something, grimacing as Marin ran to his friend in concern.
"Alya?!" Marin asked but suddenly she shoved him away, now wearing black lipstick, donning a sinister grin.
"You're not my BFF, you're a joke! How stupid can you be that you can't see that everyone laughs at you behind your back!" She cackled, "You think Adrien's ever going to love a loser like you?!"
Marin was stunned at what she said, frozen in place as she ran off laughing. "Alya?" He questioned for a moment before snapping to attention, glaring at Dark Cupid. Whatever he did to his best friend, Marin knew he'd have to undo it. But something caught his attention as he noticed Dark Cupid's brooch. "Oh no, Kim!" He gasped realizing that Chloé must have dumped him hard. If that was the case then she may have unintentionally made herself a target for this Villain's rage. He quickly checked around, running under a bridge as Tikki hovered before him.
"Tikki, Spots on!"
Chat Noir stood atop the roofs of Paris. He knew he was taking a chance, but maybe he'd get lucky and Ladybug would show up. What he didn't expect was to see his partner crash landing next to him looking winded as he was scanning the skies for something.
"Falling for me already, bugaboo?" He asked, his face already reddening as he helped his partner up, "I need to talk to you."
Ladybug tried to step away "It's going to have to wait. Dark Cupi-" But stopped as it was made apparent that Chat Noir had a troubled expression on his face. He faltered for a moment, wondering what could be wrong as Chat Noir looked up towards him, grasping both of his hands as the stood at the edge of a roof.
" I swore to myself that I'd tell you as soon as I saw you. Ladybug, I-I" Chat Noir began to say but then his eyes widened with shock as he saw a villain aiming for Ladybug. "-look out!" Acting quickly, he pulled Ladybug into a tight embrace, spinning around so he'd take the blow. Chat Noir suddenly felt something dark overtake him. Ladybug noticed his partner had a different aura now, no longer being his Chat Noir.
"Cat Noir?" He asked, feeling a pit start to form in his stomach.
"Ladybug, I...I loathe you!" Chat Noir suddenly grasped him tighter, using his enhanced strength so Ladybug couldn't easily escape. His partner tried to escape, struggling, but Cat Noir dug his claws into his friends back. Smiling evilly as heard winces of pain. "You're nothing Ladybug! And mean even less to me! I hate you!"
Ladybug slammed his head against Chat Noir's, stunning him for a moment, as he quickly kicked him. As Ladybug fell backward off of the rood, he used the momentum from his yo-yo and gain some distance.
He landed in the Grand Paris hotel, wincing in pain as he could feel the claw marks in his back start to sting. But he counted himself lucky that Chat Noir didn't have the forethought to activate his cataclysm.
"Ladybug, it's about time, where have you been?!" Chloé demanded as Sabrina stood behind her looking worried, both popping out from behind a counter.
"You two need to leave. Your friend Kim's turned into Dark Cupid, and he'll be after you Chloé." He warned but his classmate wasn't having it.
"Me, how could he possibly have a vendetta against me? I've done nothing wrong." She insisted but when Ladybug glanced at Sabrina who looked away in embarrassment, knowing all too well what her friend had done.
Chloé then slapped her forehead with realization. "Duh! It's because of this. Everyone would love to get their hands on it. That's Adrien, a super hot guy in my class. And rich, too! He's hot for me of course."
Ladybug stared at the framed portrait for a moment, almost amazed that Chloé would decide to keep a framed ad of one her childhood friend.
Sabrina then screamed as the portrait started to move, "It's alive!"
But Ladybug knew better, already using his yo-yo as a shield when Dark Cupid began shooting at him. He quickly grabbed Chloé, hoisting her over his shoulder like a sack of flour and used his yo-yo to quickly escape the hotel, then throwing her into the street so she could get away. Sabrina trailed behind as Chat Noir then blocked his own route of escape, standing before him.
"Well, well, looks like I'll have to cut this Ladybug's wings." He remarked darkly, taking out his baton.
Ladybug glared at him on one hand not wanting to fight his friend but on the other, having to do his job and protect the city.
Cat Noir rolled his eyes, "Ugh, that glare, thinking you're better than everyone else, it's revolting. Anyone would be unlucky to have you for a friend!" Cat Noir leaped into the air, swinging his staff directly at Ladybug. His partner easily dodged it, jumping up onto a lamp post and then to a roof to run away, knowing that Cat Noir would pursue. He then quickly turned, using his yo-yo to gran Chat Noir's staff, but to no avail as the latter was far stronger.
"Why are you so full of hate, Cat Noir?!" Ladybug asked, wondering why his partner was so intent on destroying him. After all, Dark Cupid had shot his closest friend earlier that day, and all she did was throw a few heartbreaking insults and then ran away. Chat Noir wanted to deal him physical harm, while also throwing some heartbreaking quips, which, coming from his mouth. May have come from a place deep within his partner's heart. He couldn't be sure, after all it wasn't like he knew Chat Noir's that well personally, only well enough to know that he'd never try and harm in intentionally.
Cat Noir grinned smugly, "Because hate conquers all."
Ladybug flinched slightly, hearing those words come from his partner. Part of him agreed with him, he knew what it was like, how negativity could easily destroy years of love. But Chat Noir wasn't like that, his partner believed in the best, of any situation, and of any person. Suddenly, he remembered the school lesson from earlier that day. And then proceeded to sla[ his forehead as Chat Noir looked on in confusion.
"Huh?"
"Sorry kitty, I really don't want to do this." Ladybug remarked walking towards his partner with a steely gaze in his eye. One that made Chat Noir feel unsettled, he was used to chasing Ladybug, not being pursued. Getting a bad feeling, Chat Noir quickly ran out of there, being followed by his partner mercilessly as they ran across the city together.
"Get back, you savage!" Chat Noir called out wanting nothing to do with Ladybug now.
Ladybug caught him easily using his yo-yo, pinning him to a wall as he lifted his chin up towards him. Every instinct told him not to do this as Chat Noir was struggling and squirming like crazy, but it, unfortunately, had to be done.
"No, no!" Chat whimpered out, but at the last moment, an arrow separated them. Ladybug jumped back as Chat Noir escaped his bindings with the help of Dark Cupid. Ladybug landed behind a fountain as Dark Cupid and Chat Noir looked around. Ladybug peaked over the edge, eyes darting between the villains, wondering which would attack first.
"How you gonna fight both of us now, bug eyes?"Cat Noir sneered at him, taking out his staff.
Ladybug narrowed his eyes as he activated his power. "Lucky Charm!" He shouted, and a candy apple fell into his hands. Already he knew what to do as he recalled his sticky these things were. He jumped onto the statue, throwing the candy apple onto Dark Cupid's head. Grabbing both of the villains' attentions, while Dark Cupid tried to take it off Chat Noir jumped towards Ladybug, growling. Ladybug could easily evade his partners' attacks, which were made easier as Chat Noir wasn't in his right mindset, thusly, was more prone to attacking recklessly, more so than normal.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Dark Cupid was trying to shoot him, but couldn't as his hands were too sticky. "Ladybug!" Dark Cupid yelled out angrily as he tried to unstick himself from the arrow. With him dealt with Ladybug turned his attention to Chat who was already midswing as his staff sent him crashing against a stone pillar. He felt a stinging on his back from earlier, for a moment being distracted, but it was all that Chat Noir needed.
"Cat Noir, his Miraculous!" Dark Cupid reminded as he placed his bow and hands into the fountain's water.
"With pleasure! Finally, I'll find out who you are, Ladybug! Your little secret will be out of the bag, and we'll all see what truly pathetic person lies beneath the mask!" He gloated, pinning one of his arms to the ground as he grasped Ladybug's face, caressing his miraculous.
But just before Cat Noir could take out his earrings, Ladybug grabbed his arm, pulling his partner down as he immediately kissed him, shutting his eyes as he could feel his face turn red. Their kiss lasted for a few moments, Ladybug only released him as Chat Noir pulled back, looking down at his partner in confusion and embarrassment at their closeness.
"Huh? What am I doing here?" He asked as he could see that Ladybug's face was as red as his probably was. But swiftly Ladybug placed Chat Noir over his shoulders, "The quiver pin, Cat Noir! Now!" He said as he threw Cat Noir, screaming as he landed on Dark Cupid. The Villain was stunned for a moment, which gave Chat Noir enough time to grab the pin and then jump back towards his partner.
"For me? You really shouldn't have." He remarked as he clutched the brooch tightly. "Cataclysm!" He yelled out, releasing the Akuma into the air.
"No more mischief from you little Akuma. Time to purify!" Ladybug said as he swung his yo-yo towards the possessed Akuma, capturing it in one motion. Then opening it once more, watching the newly purified Akuma fly away. "Bye-bye, little butterfly."
"Miraculous Ladybug!" Ladybug tossed his lucky charm into the air, returning everything back to normal. He didn't feel the claw marks anymore as Kim turned back to normal.
Ladybug and Cat Noir pounded their fists together triumphantly, "Pound it!" as Ladybug then handed the brooch back to Kim who looked at it sadly.
"Don't be so downtrodden Kim, just because you've experienced your first heartbreak doesn't mean that there's something better waiting down the line for you." Ladybug advised as Kim smiled gratefully.
"Thank you Ladybug." He said thankfully as Ladybug heard his earings beep. Just as he was about to leave, Chat Noir grasped his hand.
"Wait, Ladybug! I gotta tell you something." He said nervously but immediately grew curious as he saw Ladybug's face redden.
"I'm sorry, it was necessary for me to do. I swear I wouldn't have done it if I didn't need to." He insisted as Chat Noir could see Ladybug's ears were red as well.
But there was no time for other questioned, "Wait, I just wanted to say-" But he was interrupted by his ring flashing as well.
Ladybug pulled his hand back from him, flashing him an understanding smile, "Whatever you have to say, I promise it can wait." He said and then used his yo-yo to jump on the rooftops.
Leaving a disheartened Chat Noir alone for a moment before he himself ran in the other direction.
Adrien was completely appalled at what recorded, Him fighting Ladybug, even insulting him while Plagg was laughing like a maniac.
"Can you believe all the horrible thoughtless things you said to Ladybug? You tried to KILL HIM."
Adrien moved to plant his face in his bed. "You think it's funny, huh? Ugh!" He then screamed in his pillow while Plagg sighed.
P"What's the big deal? You've got so many cards from all these lady fans of yours! Take your pick!" He then eyed a small heart-shaped box with something delicious smelling inside. He quickly opened it, cheering in surprise as he saw shortbread cookies, throwing the card to Adrien as he began snacking.
Adrien opened his eyes as he saw the card, widening his eyes as he saw it was unsigned. "Your hair shines like the sun, your eyes are gorgeous green, I look at you and wonder your innermost thoughts and dreams. While your Valentine I may never be, my admiration and love for you will last for an eternity." (he gasps)
Plagg grimaced again, "Yuck, anyone who writes as sickeningly sweet as you must be your soulmate."
Adrien lingered over the card, "It isn't signed... " Just then ladybug landed on the card for a moment as it then flew out the window. Adrien was enchanted at the sight, following it as he looked up towards the setting sun. Smiling warmly as he held the card close. "Could it have come from Ladybug?"
"Oh, please, don't be so dramatic," Plagg commented, popping another cookie into his mouth as he saw Adrien practically swoon over a bug.
"Why didn't you sign the card?" Tikki asked curiously as she bit into a spare shortbread cookie. Both were sitting on a bench near in the park, Marin turned towards his Kwami with a whistful smile, looking away for a moment as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Because I didn't need to." He simply said now looking up, towards the setting sun.
"Hm?" Tikki looked at him curiously.
"He probably gets a bunch of these kinds of letters every day, from a bunch of fans no less. This way, I can confess how I feel without him being weirded out by someone close by to him."
Tikki then flew towards him, hugging his cheek as Marin chuckled. "You're not weird! That poem you wrote was sweet!" She insisted.
But her partner shrugged his shoulders, "You're just saying that because you're a sweet little sugar cube. Boys don't want to be given poems by weirdos. It already feels awkward being around him as it is, considering how much I think about him already..." Marin admitted. "I don't know, it just seems kind of pointless."
"It's not pointless, anyone would be lucky to be loved by you!"
Marin couldn't help but smile at Tikki, hugging her close. " I guess that means that you're the luckiest Kwami then?" He asked playfully.
"In the world!" She remarked as they both giggled. But it was cut short as they heard someone approaching, Tikki immediately disappeared into Marin's messenger bag.
"Hey, cutie!" They called out as Marin turned his head to see Alya gave him a quick hug. "So you still owe me a date." She remarked.
"Do I?" He asked teasingly. "Could've sworn you would've forgotten all about that, what with you hating me and all."
She elbowed his side " You already know that nothing you do could ever make me hate my main guy."
"Likewise," Marin assured as Alya rested her head on his shoulder for a moment.
"That being said," She remarked, standing up abruptly. "I've already invited Nino out on our date, poor guy couldn't find anyone else to hand out with. You cool with him going with us to that cafe?" She asked giving him a hand.
Marin smiled at her playfully, grasping her hand. "Only if you promise not to get too jealous once he too, falls in love with me."
"Psh, okay, I promise not to get jealous once Nino eventually falls in love with my cutie." Alya joked as they walked together with happy expressions on their faces.
Notes:
-Marin is far more pessimistic than Marinette when it comes to love. (due to tragic backstory reasons) But will always support his friend's pursuits.
- Adrien is in the love, and probably can't get out of the love. It's some powerful stuff.
-I think Ladybug is probably in love with Chat Noir, the same way Marin is in love with Adrien. So that's something to think about.
- Marin and Nino are already good friends, when he's not handing out with Adrien he's usually seen with either Marin or Alya.
- Chat Noir scratching Ladybug, probably drew blood, but idk how graphic I get about some of the scenes.